Envelope-sealing device



E. H. FOOTE. ENVELOPE SEALING DEVICE. APPLICATION man JUNE I6. 1920.

Patented May 30, 1922;

3 SHEETS -SHEET 1.

E. H. FOOTE. ENVELOPE SEALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1920.

1,41'?",897. Patented May 30,1922.

\ E. H. FOOTE.

ENVELOPE SEALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1920- 1,417,897. Patented May 30,1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UN 1 T E ll) \EDWABD H. FOQTE. OE SOMERVILLE. MJTZSSACHUEJBTTS, .AGSIGNOR TO STANDARD ENVELOE? A CORPORATION 035 BEASSACl-IUSETTS.

SEALER l'tfl-KN'UFAGTURXNG COlIIZEIiINY, Ol? EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS,

ENVELOPE-SEALING DEVICE.

Application filed June 16, 192

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD El. Foo'rn, a

citizen of the United Eitates, and a resident of Somerville, in the county of liiiiddlesex and Commonwealth of llllassachusetts. have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Envelope-Sealing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a type of envelope designed for use on the desk, it being the special object of my invention tomake a small, light, and compact device which will be useful when. there are a tow cuvelopes to be sealed at a time as (,llSlllIlglllSllGtl from the usual envelope sealing machine which is designed to handle a large number of envelopes. Hence, it has been my aim to produce a device which shall be light. and compact and which shall not encumber the desk of the user when the device is not in. use. It has been my further object to make such a device which shall be entirely efficient.

My device may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top view.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing a stack of envelopes located in the device in process of being sealed.

Fig. 3 is a top view showing an envelope with its flap in contact with the moistening device.

Fig. 4- is a section on line t-4.- of Fig. 3 viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Fig, 5 is a section on line of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, A is a base plate the front and back edges of which are curved downwardly and provided with rubber feet a. Passing through slots in the rear portion of base plate A and riveted to the under side thereof are two upright posts 13. A sealing plate C is superimposed upon the base plate A and slidably mounted in a manner whereby it may be elevated above base plate A by means of slots. through which pass the posts 13.

The moistening tank D is securely fixed to the top of the sealing plate G. This tank Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Serial No. assert.

D is provided witha closely fitting cover (Z which has a slotted opening in its top through the center of which passes an arched tongue E over which is looped a wick iF,-the dependent ends of which extend into the water in tank D. A hinged rod or flap depresser G of shape best illustrated in Fig. 1 is mounted'on top of the cover (Z y means of straps g. The end of the rodG, most remote from the hinges formed by straps g, is held in a slightly elevated position by means of a hoss i'l, thus permitting the insert-ion of the envelope flap betweenthiszrod or flap depressor it and the cover (7 of the nioistener D.

The operation of my device is as follows: The flap of the envelope is opened and the envelope is advanced by the hand of the operator with its flap forward and its face upward toward the moistener tank, the flap being inserted beneath the upturned end of rod G near the right side of the envelope. The envelope is then further advanced and moved to the right causing the gummed edge of the flap to pass over the moistening wick F, the end of the rod or flap depressor G serving to hold the flap in constant moistening engagement with the wick F. When this moistening contact is completed, the en velope still held 'in substantially the same position, is inserted between the base plate A and sealing plate C, contact of the envelope flap with the downturned front edge of the base plate A causing the flap to be folded back into its normal position. The envelope is pushed between the base plate and the sealing plate until its advanced edge contacts with the posts 13. After the first envelope has been inserted successive envelopes may be similarly inserted excepting that it will usually be found to be more convenient to turn the flap downward and against the body of the envelope by bringing it into contact with the front edge of the envelope or stack of envelopes protruding from bet-ween the curved front edges of the base plate and sealing plate. It will be apparent that if the operator wishes to turn the envelope over before inserting it between the base plate and sealing plate the flap may be turned down by bringing it first into contact with the upturned front edge of the sealing plate.

As the stack of envelopes grows it is apparent that the sealing plate C will rise to accommodate the stack by sliding upon posts B and that a desirable weight is given to the sealing plate C by the moistening tank D. If but few envelopes are handled at a time they may be conveniently left in the sealing stack until the user of the device is ready to mail or otherwise distribute them as such action will assist in the sealing operation. by giving the moistened gum upon the flaps time to dry and harden. My device has the advantage over many hand sealing devices that the envelopes get a much longer sealing interval than that afforded by those devices wherein the moistened fiap is passed rapidly between sealing plate or sealing rollers. I find this rapid sealing action to have little practical value, whereas a stack sealer of the character afforded by my de vice cannot fail to operate successfully, and the envelopes may be inserted into the compressed stack by reason of the relative positions of the moistening and sealing elements and their peculiar structural features with ease, rapidity, and certainty.

Having thus fully described my device, what I claim is,-

1. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a base plate, a sealing plate slidably mounted above said base plate in a manner whereby it may be elevated above said base plate and a moistener mounted upon said sealing plate.

2. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a base plate provided with a downwardly turned front edge, a sealing plate superimposed upon said base plate and provided with an upwardly turned front edge and a pair of slots located near its rear edge, a pair of posts mounted on said base plate and extending through said slots and a moistener mounted upon said sealing plate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

EDVVAR-D H. FOOTE. 

